EDITORIAL: Here’s to the heroes that helped on 4/27

Thursday

May 26, 2011 at 12:01 AM

It is altogether fitting that the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Department took time Tuesday to honor heroes who emerged in the wake of the devastating April 27 tornado that left 41 people dead and more than 1,000 injured in the county.There have been many tales of heroism and courage that have come to light since that terrible act of nature about a month ago, and it is good to see that recognition was extended to more than 34 officers, civilians and agencies that performed above and beyond the call of duty. For instance, Deputy David Shaw, Deputy Aundrea Thomas, Tommy Glen Kizziah and Gerald Ramsay, an off-duty paramedic, teamed up and used a hand jack to lift the home that Willie Turner, his wife, Patricia, son, Trey, and cousin, Velma LeRoy, were trapped under in Holt, Tuscaloosa Sheriff Ted Sexton said in recognizing them for saving a life in the most hazardous of circumstances.Shaw took the lead and requested equipment to clear a path to the crushed home, but Trey Turner and Velma LeRoy had already died by the time they got to them and the responders were unable to use chain saws to remove the debris because of a broken gas meter, Sexton said. They were able to get Turner on a backboard, and move him from the rear of the house to a hole in the front foundation, where he was pulled to the surface and taken to DCH Regional Medical Center. Over the next two hours, the men were able to lift the foundation and free Patricia Turner from beneath a water heater and duct work, but she died within minutes of her rescue.While their individual exploits are too numerous to mention here, also honored on Tuesday were Ron Hampel, Lt. Al Jackson, Deputy Danny Morales, Deputy Jason Powell, Josh Thomas, Sgt. Kenny Abrams, Deputy McArthur Brown, Communications Operator Belinda Creer, Ricky Glover, Deputies David Griffin, Joseph Martin, Colin Hanks, Kristopher Roney, Chaplain Terry Hallman, Sgt. Mike Kowzan, Cpl. Keith Hamner, Deputy Jeff Judd, Deputy Martha Webb, Detention Officer Claude Martin, Sgt. Andy Norris, Deputy Mickey Pate, Teresa Quarles, Marla Shaw, Cpl. Mark Weaver, Sgt. Jack Kennedy, Deputy Brendan Wood, Assistant County Engineer Allen Springer, and engineering department employees Mike Hocutt and Eric Reese. The county road and bridge department was commended for its assistance in the Holt area with heavy equipment to clear roads for rescue teams to reach victims. They were instrumental in clearing the debris at the home where Turner was rescued.Also commended was the Sheriff’s Office communication division which coordinating the response of not only deputies, but utility companies and volunteer medical responders and whose 911 operators answered 1,036 calls on April 27.And we are certain more tales of heroism will emerge.

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